Charlie Hunnam, best known for "Sons of Anarchy," and Dakota Johnson, who co-starred in the one-season sitcom "Ben & Kate," will co-star in the film adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey."
(Hunnam, Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Johnson, Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Hold on to your handcuffs, folks: Charlie Hunnam, who plays scruffy blond biker Jax on FX's gritty "Sons of Anarchy," will star as the debonair and dominant Christian Grey in the film adaptation of "Fifty Shades of Grey," producers announced this morning.

You may remember Hunnam from Judd Apatow's cult sitcom "Undeclared," or this summer's domestic dud "Pacific Rim." He will be joined by Dakota Johnson as the inexperienced Anastasia Steele. Johnson co-starred in the canceled 2012 sitcom "Ben & Kate" but is perhaps best known for being Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith's only child together.

Speculation over casting the film, based on the kinky and astoundingly successful novels by E.L. James, has been rife for months. There was immediate backlash from certain corners of the Internet devoted to dark-haired hunks such as Matt Bomer, Ian Somerhalder and Henry Cavill, but producer Dana Brunetti attempted to deflect the inevitable controversy in his Twitter feed: "There is a lot that goes into casting that isn't just looks. Talent, availability, their desire to do it, chemistry with other actor, etc. So if your favorite wasn't cast, then it is most likely due to something on that list. Keep that in mind while hating and keep perspective."

So if your favorite wasn't cast, then it is most likely due to something on that list. Keep that in mind while hating and keep perspective.